In people at high risk for type 2 diabetes, women have higher blood sugar levels after eating high-glycemic index foods than low-glycemic index foods, and this difference grows larger over 12 weeks....
Mechanism
Synthesis from 1 study
When women eat lots of sugary foods, their bodies make more insulin at first, but over weeks, their muscles and fat cells stop responding well to it, so sugar builds up in the blood. Men’s bodies keep responding to insulin normally, so their blood sugar stays stable even on the same diet.
Most probable mechanism
In women, eating lots of sugary carbs causes the pancreas to release more insulin at first, but over time, the body’s fat and muscle cells stop responding well to insulin, so sugar stays in the blood longer. Men’s bodies adjust better and keep clearing sugar normally, even with the same diet.
High-glycemic carbohydrates cause rapid absorption of glucose into the bloodstream, triggering a larger and more sustained insulin secretion in women than in men.
Repeated high insulin demand leads to reduced sensitivity of skeletal muscle and adipose tissue to insulin in women, impairing glucose uptake.
Over time, the reduced insulin sensitivity in women results in prolonged elevation of plasma glucose after meals, while men maintain stable insulin sensitivity and glucose clearance.
Evidence from Studies
Supporting (1)
Community contributions welcome
Contradicting (0)
Community contributions welcome
Gold Standard Evidence Needed
According to GRADE and EBM methodology, here is what ideal scientific evidence would look like to definitively prove or disprove this specific claim, ordered from strongest to weakest evidence.